Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday. They will spend two days in Jammu and Kashmir and take stock of the party’s preparations for the 2024 assembly elections.
Gandhi and Kharge may also explore the possibility of an alliance with Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference.
The Congress on Wednesday posted a video on Twitter sharing glimpses of the moment when Gandhi and Kharge arrived in Srinagar. “Congress President Shri Kharge and Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi were given a warm welcome in Srinagar,” the party’s post on Twitter read.
Congress also informed that Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address Congress workers in Srinagar and Jammu on Thursday, August 22.
Congress President Shri @Kharge and the Leader of the Opposition Mr. @RahulGandhi warm welcome to Srinagar.
Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Shri Rahul Gandhi will address Congress workers in Srinagar and Jammu tomorrow.
📍 Jammu and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/0rPcWSrS1w
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 21, 2024
The Congress leaders were given a rousing welcome on their arrival and party workers and supporters queued up outside the airport. Enthusiastic supporters stopped Gandhi’s car on the airport road, causing trouble for the security personnel deployed to protect him for some time.
A senior Congress leader told news agency PTI that Gandhi and Kharge are likely to hold important meetings in connection with the three-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir beginning on September 18.
“No official meeting was scheduled between the two leaders on Wednesday,” he said.
According to reports, the two leaders will hold extensive discussions with party leaders and workers from 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday. The meetings will begin at 10 am after which the two may interact with the media in Srinagar.
After concluding the talks in Srinagar, Gandhi and Kharge will go to Jammu to continue the interaction with workers from 10 districts of Jammu region.
A Congress leader said that both the leaders will take feedback from the party workers about the ground level preparations for the elections. These elections are being held in the Union Territory after a gap of ten years.
“This programme was decided before the announcement of the election (dates) and only the dates were to be finalised. This programme of Rahul ji and the party president is to interact with party workers, so they are here,” Karra told reporters outside Hotel Lalit, where the Congress central leaders are staying.
Possibility of alliance with NC?
The two Congress leaders may also meet the National Conference (NC) leadership to discuss a possible pre-poll alliance, party sources told PTI.
However, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Karra said the visit of the two leaders was planned much before the election schedule was announced. “This visit has nothing to do with (discussions on) alliance,” he said.
When asked about any invitation for a meeting with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, Karra said such things happen after internal discussions and decisions within the party. “I cannot say anything about it,” he said.
Karra said the Congress’ stance is that “we are working with an open heart.” [for alliance] He said, “We are ready to hold talks with all like-minded parties.”
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases – on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results of the Jammu and Kashmir elections will be declared on October 4. Elections will be held for 90 assembly seats in the Union Territory.
